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This is an opinion piece by Carlos Conde, senior Philippines researcher at Human Rights Watch, written for the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). A former journalist, he reported about the Davao Death Squad killings for the PCIJ, The New York Times, and other publications.

The prosecution presented eight key witnesses, including a former vice mayor and a former trusted man of the Ampatuans. Separately, they testified on how they saw the planning and execution of the ambush against the Mangudadatu party that led to the killing of 58 persons on Nov. 23, 2009.

Rodrigo R. Duterte is a most secretive President when it comes to the details of his wealth. To this day, eight months after the April 30 deadline for filing, he has not released a copy of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) for 2018.   By all indications, Duterte sticks out as the lie of his own Freedom of Information (FOI) edict.

Until they were charged with the murder of 58 persons on Nov. 23, 2009, the Ampatuans lived in mansions, traveled with a retinue of armed escorts in a convoy of black SUVs, flew business class, and in the first days of their detention, enjoyed catered meals.